The Divine Presence and the Forgiveness of Sins

The Divine Presence and the Forgiveness of Sins “In All the Scriptures” “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures I Cor.15:3 The original heaven-and-earth creation was meant to function as a dwelling, not only for humans, but for the Creator God Himself. Creation as a whole was a kind of Temple, with Humans, the divine “image” placed at its heart. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… “You will not surely die… you will be like God, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Gen.3:8 What had happened? Two ways of looking at it… Man broke the command Man chose to forfeit his responsibility of reflecting the image of God (he chose idolatry) Breaking moral commandments (important as they are) are secondary, The human problem is not so much “sin” seen as the breaking of moral codes—but rather idolatry and the distortion of genuine humanness it produces. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Rom.1:18 they … exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Rom.1:23 they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator Rom.1:25 they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die Rom.1:32 “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Mt.4:9 the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. Jn.4:23 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. II Cor. 3:18 We will become like the object of our worship The tabernacle in the wilderness and then the Temple in Jerusalem-a creation in miniature; in which God and His people would meet. It would be a miniature Eden. Now, however, it would be placed under strict conditions, because of the danger of the rebellious humans bringing their polluted lives into direct contact with the holy God Himself The Tabernacle Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35 The Temple And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. I Kings 8:10-11 David’s Proposal and God’s Reply II Sam. 7:1-14a Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead Rom.1:1-4 The Temple Defiled “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.” And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. Ezek. 8:6-10 The Glory Departs And the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord…. Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. Ezek. 10:4,18 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Dan.9:1-2 A “deeper” exile “Seventy weeks of years are decreed concerning your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Dan.9:24 Israel’s Hope and Frustration I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah Ps.89:1-4 I (God)will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah Ps.89:34-37 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David? Ps.89:49 Once we understand the image bearing purpose of human beings… And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn.1:14 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. Mal.3:1 Jn.2:13-22 The Glory fully unveiled…How Jesus Became King Jn.12:12-33 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Mt.27:50-51 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. I Cor.6:19-20 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Rom.12:1 Through the death of Jesus the original human calling/vocation has been reestablished, so that redeemed humans are now seen as the “royal priesthood” or a “kingdom of priests;” there claiming that the original project of creation is on track again… and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev.1:5-6